The meadow outside the Starting Village was peaceful—sun-drenched grass, drifting petals, tiny critters hopping through the flowers.
Peaceful…
until Aria yelled:
"RILEY! THERE! HIT THE PINK THING!"
Riley released an arrow at the small round critter bobbing in front of them. It bounced harmlessly off the creature's rubbery side and landed in the grass with a sad thunk.
Aria cackled. "You MISSED!"
Sofia shook her head. "Aria… be nice."
Riley exhaled sharply. The Lumin Whelp perched at his feet, staring up at him with hopeful eyes.
"Alright, little guy," Riley said. "Let's… try this."
The pink critter blinked its beady eyes and hopped closer.
The Whelp puffed up its tiny chest.
Riley pointed. "Use—uh—something. Attack?"
The Whelp charged.
Sort of.
It… waddled.
Like a baby duck trying to sprint.
It bumped into the critter with all the force of a soft pillow.
boop.
The pink critter stared at the Whelp.
Then headbutted it.
The Whelp squeaked, flopped backward, rolled twice, and lay on its back with its legs in the air.
Aria fell to her knees laughing.
"Oh my GOD. It's so WEAK. Riley, did you adopt a depressed marshmallow?!"
Sofia rushed over, scooping the Whelp up.
"Aww… poor thing! Are you okay?"
The tiny Spirit whimpered, glowing faintly.
Riley's jaw clenched.
"This… this can't be its only attack," he muttered. "It can't be THIS weak."
Sofia gently patted the Whelp. "It might just need training."
Aria wiped tears of laughter. "Or life support."
The Whelp squeaked again.
Riley rubbed his forehead.
He hated it—
Hated that a part of him felt disappointed.
Hated that a tiny, sweet creature was making him frustrated when it wasn't its fault.
He crouched and let the Whelp sit in his hands.
Soft. Warm.
Looking up at him like he was the whole world.
"Okay," Riley murmured. "Let's see your moves."
He pulled up the ability screen.
A glowing interface projected itself into the air.
Riley scanned it…
And froze.
LUMIN WHELP — SKILLS:
• Tackle
That was it.
One move.
Not even a good one.
Riley sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Just Tackle. Seriously?"
Aria leaned over his shoulder. "Bro, my spider has TWO moves. TWO. And it looks like it could bench press a bus."
The Venom Webling scuttled across the grass, eager and full of energy. It slammed its body into a training dummy with serious force, actually knocking it over.
Riley blinked. "That's… impressive."
Aria puffed her chest out. "She has Tackle AND Body Slam. She is beauty. She is grace. She will punch you in the face."
The Webling hissed proudly.
Sofia smiled shyly as her Lumen Pup shimmered beside her.
"My fox has two moves too," Sofia said softly. "Quick Attack and Tackle."
The Lumen Pup dashed forward in a streak of golden light, skidding to a stop and wagging its glowing tail.
Riley stared at both of their Spirits…
Then down at his.
His Spirit blinked at him, glowing faintly.
He let out a long, controlled exhale.
"Alright," he said quietly. "That's fine. We'll… figure it out."
Sofia touched his arm gently. "Riley… it's okay to be frustrated."
He swallowed.
Yeah.
It was.
But he refused to take it out on the Whelp.
It wasn't its fault it was weak.
It was his now.
His responsibility.
"No trading," Riley murmured to himself. "No re-rolling. No second picks."
He lifted the tiny Spirit to eye level.
"You and me," Riley whispered. "We'll make this work."
The Whelp chirped softly and nuzzled his cheek.
Aria put her hands on her hips. "That's the spirit!… uh, literally."
Riley snorted.
"Alright," he said. "Let's get some training done."
They moved deeper into the meadow.
Critters popped out of the grass—harmless, low level, perfect for beginners.
Aria's spider launched itself like a purple missile, knocking over anything in reach.
"BOOM! TAKE THAT! And YOU! AND YOU!"
The Webling hit a puffball so hard it flew into a bush.
Sofia's Lumen Pup moved gracefully across the field, tail glowing. She tapped a creature with Quick Attack, knocking it gently aside.
"Good girl," Sofia whispered, stroking its head.
Riley, meanwhile…
"Okay, little guy," he said, pointing at a tiny beetle Spirit munching grass. "Give it your best shot."
The Whelp charged—
fell halfway—
got back up—
and hit the beetle with what Riley could only describe as an apologetic bump.
The beetle stared, confused.
Then tackled the Whelp back.
The Whelp faceplanted.
Riley dragged a hand down his face.
"Oh my god…"
Aria howled with laughter.
"This is the funniest day of my LIFE."
Sofia hugged the Whelp protectively. "Shh… it's okay. You're trying your best."
Riley felt the disappointment; it stung more than he wanted to admit.
This wasn't the start he imagined.
Not with all his knowledge.
He wanted power.
A strong start.
Momentum.
Instead…
He had a baby lamp that lost fistfights with beetles.
He stood, looking over the meadow as other players celebrated their Spirits' early victories.
He wasn't jealous.
Not exactly.
But he felt the pull of what could've been.
If only I had a better weapon…
Something strong.
Something fast.
Something I remember…
And then—
It hit him.
A memory.
Sharp.
Sudden.
A hidden chest.
A forgotten spot.
A weapon that carried him through the early game in his first life.
His heart jolted.
"I know where to go," Riley said suddenly.
Aria spun toward him. "What, to find a Spirit that isn't allergic to breathing?"
"No," Riley said firmly. "To get a better weapon."
Sofia tilted her head. "A weapon?"
Riley nodded, eyes burning with purpose.
"Yeah. I remember something—
A place.
A chest.
Something no one else checks on day one."
He clutched the tiny Whelp gently against his chest.
"If I can get that weapon… everything will change."
The Whelp chirped, tiny and hopeful.
Aria threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Hell yeah, bro! Lead the way!"
Sofia smiled brightly.
"We're with you."
Riley took a breath—
and stepped forward.
This was it.
The moment everything began to turn.
And nothing—not fate, not Andy, not a weak starter—was going to stop him now.